Christianity V. Paganism In Beowulf
Beginning with a richly adorned burial at sea and ending with an equally elaborate funeral pyre, with plenty of killing and gore in between, Beowulf is an epic poem about the warlike ways of the Northmen and the monsters they encounter. Yet despite its obviously pagan roots, Beowulf has a Christian overtone that is impossible to ignore. Just as the poem’s contemporary readers were thrown into a neurotic state by analyzing the pull of a pagan past against the new teachings of Christianity, the poet himself was put to task to successfully blend these religious ideologies in a complex yet effective plot that appealed to his audience precisely because they were attempting to reconcile their own beliefs. When Christian missionaries introduced their beliefs to the Anglo-Saxons, it was clear that the two could not coexist; therefore, they must abandon these ancient icons to hold a more monotheistic view. In Beowulf exists the quiet battle between the two, and several examples from the text support either side. The dramatic warrior culture, the religious ceremonies practiced, and the superhero image of Beowulf himself all point to a classic pagan society. In fact, the poem is often compared to the original heroic epics, Homer’s
Just as the battle between the powers of good and evil can be applied to this honor-culture, a powerfully valid Biblical view can be taken of the same scene, and the speaker makes this view difficult to bypass. One of the most effective arguments for this side is made by means of Grendel and the constant association of him with Satan. He is first described as “a powerful demon, a prowler through the dark” (86), secretly wishing he were a part of “the din of the loud banquet every day in the hall, the harp being struck and the clear song of a skilled poet telling with mastery of man’s beginnings” (87-91). Heorot, a tiny bright spot in the surrounding darkness, representative of civilization itself, is where the thanes gather to celebrate their victories. They are merry, happy, social, and even play music, which particularly irks Grendel. This is a far cry from the darkness of Grendel’s dismal lair, existing where land meets water, representative of the monster’s own vague creepiness. This antagonist’s jealousy can in fact be paralleled with Satan’s jealousy of the joy in Eden, causing him to appear in the form of a serpent and trick Eve into eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. His trickery that brings the fall of man is, on a smaller level, like the “God-cursed brute” Grendel wreaking havoc on Heorot and the Danes. Beowulf can be interpreted as a heroic epic when Grendel is seen as a ravenous monster because it paints Beowulf as a magnificent hero for defeating the “fiend out of hell.” In true Christian form, Grendel’s wretchedness is conveniently explained by his belonging to “Cain’s clan, whom the Creator had outlawed and condemned as outcasts” (106-107). When Grendel appears, he is “wearing God’s anger” which is far from the spirit of the thanes, who are celebrating God’s grace in their victories at the hall Heorot. Grendel’s jealousy and pain resulting from being an outcast explains his violent reaction to the civilization. The reader feels pity for Grendel when he realizes that the monster is bitter because Heorot represents everything that he lacks. Grendel is even described as an “unhappy creature” while the thanes are “joyful and blessed.” After Beowulf rips Grendel’s arm off, the reader again feels pity for the monster as he slinks away to his mother’s lair to die. Because Beowulf is so eager to slay the pathetic devil-monster, his character can be read as haughty and his actions interpreted as purely selfish, on a quest for gl
Some topics in this essay:
Firstly Beowulf,
Subsequent Beowulf’s,
Bible Grendel,
Beowulf Christian,
Heorot Grendel’s,
Danes Beowulf,
Jesus Beowulf,
Achilles Odysseus,
Denmark Grendel,
Beowulf’s Wiglaf,
powers evil,
christian value,
reader feels pity,
glory life,
reader feels,
winning glory,
typical christian,
pagan society,
beowulf jesus,
grendel mother,
emphasis winning glory,
winning glory life,
die beowulf,
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Approximate Word count = 1714
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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